Zambia breaks ground on Timbuktoo MineTech Hub
Zambia held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Timbuktoo MineTech Hub, the first innovation hub of its kind in Africa dedicated to transforming the mining industry.
Held at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR), the event celebrates a new era of leveraging technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship to redefine mining in Zambia and across the continent.
Speaking through the Minister of Technology and Science, Honourable Felix Mutati, President Hakainde Hichilema emphasized the hub’s potential to modernize mining, create industries, and improve livelihoods.
Revolutionizing the mining sector
Natalie Jabangwe, Executive Secretary of Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation, highlighted the focus on empowering African youth to innovate and revolutionize the mining sector. The MineTech Hub is one of ten hubs under UNDP’s Timbuktoo Initiative, which aims to invest $1 billion in 10,000 African tech startups, impacting over 100 million lives.
The hub will nurture mining startups, optimizing operations, enhancing safety, and promoting sustainability while addressing challenges like youth unemployment and underinvestment in research and technology.
The event saw participation from diverse stakeholders, including the United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms. Beatrice Mutali, who underscored the hub’s role as a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development in mining.
As the “Copperbelt of Africa,” Zambia’s mining sector boasts a 100-year legacy, with copper exports reaching 850,000 tons annually. The MineTech Hub positions Zambia as a leader in sustainable mining and technological advancement, bridging traditional mining practices with modern innovation. The Timbuktoo MineTech Hub is more than a facility—it is a transformative movement, fostering talent, innovation, and partnerships to shape Africa’s future as a global mining powerhouse.
